I wrote yesterday that I got a new advertiser using one of Al's letters.  I got another advertiser from it today, and have two more emails to reply to.

Last night I went to a local Meet n Greet and there were only 12 of us in attendance (the weather was beautiful)  After taking me off of the list of 12, there were 11 potential advertisers, and I sold one ad, have three other leads, and one person is on the waiting list as I already have an advertiser in that category.

Fried Mice? (Warning: Stop reading if you’re eating)

Wan Shen, a butcher in Guangdong province, southern China, guarantees that all the meat in his butcher’s shop is ‘squeaky clean’ - because all he ever sells are freshly caught mice.

To be successful in this or any other business it is important to keep track of your expenses and look at your break even point.  You want to pay yourself first.  This is very important.  You will begin to feel frustrated if you feel you are working and not getting paid.  So here is what I did.  I took a loan out from myself (savings) for all my start-up funding.  I kept track of expenses and gave myself 3 months grace period to help find advertisers, etc.  Now, I'm to to point I have advertisers and am making some money.  Rather than paying myself back the loan first. I am setting it up as a loan payment.  I have 9 deposit slips sitting on the corner of my desk.  Every month I pay myself back. This way I still have money for the monthly expenses and I still get to pay myself a little.  Even if it is only $50 a week or so.  I still feel better being able to have a little in my pocket.  I had to write down all my expenses, my goals, and how many sales this would have to lead to.  Now, that I have met this goal, I am going back, looking at what I have accomplished, and setting new goals.  I have goals for the week, month, year, and 5 years.  Not to say I don't readjust every once in a while however, it is important to keep track of this.  

One very important rule: Don't just SAY you have a goal.  Take a moment and actually write them down, put them where you will see them every day.  I have a big white board in my office with my goals clearly written.  

I am dumbfounded at how each and every publisher is willing to help out a fellow publisher become successful.

This goes from answering simple questions to sharing marketing and media successes, to uploading top quality ads.

I just read a blog posted from Ken about staying focused.  I too have a few issues in that department.  I noticed early on without having quotas, working for myself and being in the sales game can all work against you very fast.  We all know it is an averages game in sales.  We hear a lot more no's than yeses.  It doesn't take long to get frustrated and just decide to call it a day, a week, or a month.  So, how do we stay focused.  I have found by setting a routine and sticking to it definately helps get the job done.  I set my alarm for 7:30AM Mondy-Friday.  I'm off and running by 8:30 every morning.  I make myself stay focused every day until 2PM.  I'm not to check emails, vm, or other things.  I work 100% on sales.  I don't wait to do follow ups.  I keep a log of everyone I speak to every day, grab a biz. card and come back at 2PM and send a quick thank you e-mail and follow up.  

One thing I HAVE to do is I LOVE to read self help books and positive thoughts/energy books.  I find they are very helpful in the game of sales.  It doesn't take long to get discouraged in sales.  I keep one in the car, one at home and read during down times, waiting for an appointment, etc.    

Has anyone noticed that once we start publishing our newsletters it is difficult to stay focused on our best attributes and give some of the other tasks off to others?

I found myself being spread too thin and not being efficient at anything.  I decided i needed to get focused and am now concentrating on selling ads and doing the weekly layout for the newsletters.  I am going to keep creating the ads, but hope to hire someone to do this in the near future.

Is Your Dog Musically Talented?

Does your dog pretend to sing when people do? Does she go crazy when she hears a certain song on the radio? Everyone has seen a dog like that. We all think it is cute and we assume she is “singing” along with us.

I am in the process of selling advertising for a second zone in my territory.  The zone is a summer village with several communities around it.  We are selling ads for a 16 week period, which will take us from the May Long Weekend until the Labour Day Weekend.  As part of this promotion, we are also offering a discount if they would like to advertise in our first zone. 

I have a couple people interested in advertising in both areas, and one of these individuals has approached me to see if he could sell advertising.  Of course I said yes and gave him some information to use when approaching potential clients.

Thanks to Ken Van Someren, from Laughable News - Central Alberta, who has just shared his latest Medium ad design.

I received a call from a young lady a few weeks ago and she asked,"How'd you get started so quick?"

We talked for quite awhile and here is the advice that I gave and would give to any new Laughable News publisher.

If you've made the decision to become a publisher, bought your subscription, and now it's "GO TIME."

Getting started can be overwhelming, but don't let it be.

Here's how I got started. I was in a networking group so I had several advertisers from the start, but if you don't here's what you can do to get out there.

• Buy 12 counter stands and label them. I'll explain later

I have several friends who own their own businesses.  Some understand their time is money while others don't really get it.  

Many times I'll tell people I have an assistant who comes in once a week and does all my invoicing, receivables, payroll (if any), does any of my mailings, etc.  She comes in one day a week for approx. 2-3 hours.  Many people reply with "Why do you have someone do that?"  

Thanks to Ken for the article about what to watch for when distributing our weekly Newsletters.  I had always taken a mental note about how many I left and how many I picked up at each location.  However, now, I'm writing down how many picked up vs. how many left.  I'm trying ideally to get to the point I'm picking up only 1-2 at each location.  So, the locations I was leaving too many at, I've started decreasing by 10 each week.  The locations I'm delivering I'm increasing by 10 each week.  It isn't an exact science but it's a start.  Then when I consistantly have a few left over I now know I have a good number.  It is working out pretty well.  It is saving me on the printing charges by not over printing, but also not running out every week on every location as well. 

Flying Robots Play James Bond Theme

You don’t have to be a teenage boy to think this story is cool - but, if you are one, your head might just explode from sheer awesomeness when you see the video!

Hello my name is @jodyleemoore and I'm a Laughable News publisher. I've been a publisher now for over 4 weeks and absolutely love this business. I looked into several different options in becoming a publisher and Laughable News was without question the best way for me to go. I love the content and the business model. I will be here for years to come. If you are interested in becoming a Laughable News publisher and have any questions feel free to call me. I feel that Laughable News will be in many many places in the near future.

Jody Moore,
West Virginia, USA,
http://www.nicholasvilleink.com

I really enjoy being an independent newsletter publication with Laughable News.  Someone asked, why didn't you buy the CN territory.  I am very happy with my decission.  No worries about franchise fees, I'm not being told what to do by people who don't know my area, community needs.  I also LOVE the freedom that goes with this business.  I am a teacher by trade.  I taugh school for many years.  I had my own business I enjoyed but became burned out after the long hours, high demands, and constant on the go schedules of clients.  Now, I'm able to work at my pace, take a day off without any worries.  As the summer is approaching I'm already thinking of allowing myself a 3 day weekend, just because I can.  I appreciate Laughable News doesn't bog us down with high sign on franchise puchase, silly monthly franchise fees, or other nonsese.  LN just lets us sign-up, and go to work for ourselves, but now by ourselves.  They give us all the tools needed to help us succeed.  It has really helped me go from struggling to success, looking professional, and making a profit.  What's your story?

The second reason I became I publisher.

I'm a Senior Distributor for SendOutCards and also own a real estate photography service and saw Laughable News as a prime opportunity to make money selling newsletter advertising and promote my other businesses too.

So you might be wondering. How am I doing?

I think I'm doing pretty dag gone good!!!!

It is important to get out and look professional when making sales calls.  However, because we deal with such an array of people I find dressing just casual has worked quite well for me.  After all we distribute a FUN paper.  I try not to be real formal.  I'm not what you call the girly girl.  I usually wear dockers dress shirt, and tennis shoes on sales calls.  I do occassionally wear jeans.  However, if I wear my jeans I like to make sure I have a polo or t-shirt with my logo on it.  I am more relaxed and smile much more and feel better about myself.  This helps me when dealing with people.  I have found it just isn't me to dress up and wear high heals etc.  It makes me unique.  My clients always smile when they see me and they have never seemed to mind.  Remember to relax and have fun with sales.  

Ok everybod, let's put our thinking caps on.  I live in Indiana.  Some of you  I know a blessed to be in sunny warm southern climates.  Well...You know.  Anyway what does everybody do on days like this week.  It has been cold and windy, cold, or today cold and rainy.  Gray skies with no hint of sunshine.  I know, I know it will bring May flowers.  Ok, but we are all in sales here, so does this weather affect your mood to sell or your clients mood to purchase?  What do you think?  I know I am definately harder to motivate on days like this rather than happy go lucky.  So, as sales people who work for ourselves what do we do, how do you stay motivated?

Some ideas: I like to go to my favorite clients, just pop in say Hi.  Use days like this to catch up on coversation, and ask for leads.  Another thing I do is try to find my favorite lunch spot.  Not until I have made at least 5 sales calls.  I use a day like this to sit at my computer and follow-up on some e-mails and post a blog or two, : ).

Back To Nature with Grass Flip-Flops

Do you like the feeling of green grass between your toes? Of course you do! Who doesn’t?

When one is in the sales game it is important to remember not to get frustrated.  One has to plant the seeds and then watch their fruit and work grow.  I've been working on our little publication for a while and many people have looked at it.  Many excuses why they can't or won't advertise now, but good luck.  Although not everyone has purchased ads in the past.  However, we continue to visit and frequent the companies.  At least once a month I like to drop off a paper and remind them we still have space for them.  As they see our faces they start to build a rapport.  I just visited a potential client today who 2 months ago had told me no.  I went in and stated I had seen her store name in another city.  Did she own that particular store as well?  She stated yes, I said you know we have papers in that area, and we can place both addresses in an ad.  Really???  I sparked her interest.  The no, has now turned to yes!  She just signed on this morning!